LAW COURTS. 201 for some time had even sent representatives to the British Parliaments. On the 23rd April, 1564, was born the man whose name is now a household word throughout England — William Shakespeare. We can find no muniment relating to Dunheved between the date of Philip and Mary's Charter [1555] and the 7th or 8th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth [1565-6]. A manuscript book, much injured by damp, records the proceedings at Law Courts held 8th, 9th, and 10th Eliza- beth (1 566-1 570.) There are also a few similar records relating to subsequent years. Each Court is intituled, in Latin ; " Downehevit [or Dunhevid] Borough, otherwise Launceston. A Session of the Peace and Law Court held there, on Monday [always Die Lunae], the day of," &c. The Jurors are sometimes named. Then follow short notes of causes tried, or entered for trial. Among, or succeeding to, these are English presentments by the Jury as to stray- ing cattle, neglects to repair fences or roads, misdeeds of inhabitants, &c. " Loyterers," "idle livers," lodgers of beg- gars, washers at the well, "common skoldes," "common bawdes," and other breakers of laws, are freely named. We shall make occasional extracts from these papers. 1566. We present John Gendall for that he dothe kepe comon playe in ys howse, contrary to the statuyte. (Fined xij d .) 12th Nov., 1566 (Tr.) "At this Court came John Bennett, and surrendered to the Mayor and Commonalty one le Payre of walles, in Whyte Lane, Upon condition that Thomas Humfrye may have the same to him, and his assigns, according to the custom of the Borough, and he is admitted tenant thereof." This is the earliest formal memorandum of surrender we have discovered. 23 Dec. 9 Eliz. We present Mr. Monke for that he dothe nott repere hys hege, betwyne Heye and Skerne. It. We dowe remember Master meare for that the watter of Tamar dowth increse into the waye goin to the bryge, the wyche wyll mare the byewaye : And allso that the bryge dothe gow in
Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/223
This page needs to be proofread.
